YOKUHAMA. 
Chap. H. 
A large customhouse has been erected near the 
centre of the town, the foreign allotments being on 
the east side of it, and the native town chiefly on 
the west, so that foreigners and natives are kept 
each by themselves. A broad and deep canal has 
been dug round the town, and is connected with 
the bay at each end. It will be seen, therefore, 
that with the sea in front, and this canal carried 
round behind, the place can easily be completely 
isolated. Guardhouses are placed at the points of 
egress, and no one can go out or come in without 
the knowledge of the guards, and consequently of 
the Government. As I have already hinted, the 
Japanese have been much abused for this arrange- 
ment ; but it is possible, indeed I think it highly 
probable, that it has been intended more for our 
protection than for anything else. 
The new houses of the foreign merchants are 
generally one-storied bungalows, built almost en- 
tirely of wood and plaster. The joints of the 
timbers are tied together, or fastened in a way to 
allow the entire structure to rock or move to and 
fro during those earthquakes which are so common 
and sometimes so destructive in this part of the 
world. Godowns for the storing of merchandise 
are generally erected near the house of the mer- 
chant ; and in many instances there is also a fire- 
proof building on the premises, used for the pro- 
tection of specie and the more valuable portion of 
the merchant’s property. This is of the first import- 
ance in a country like Japan, where the buildings 
